Guangsheng Temple in Linfen, Shanxi: A blend of history and reality.

✨Did you know? There is a Guangsheng Temple in Linfen, Shanxi, full of stories. 📜In the 1920s, the temple was dilapidated and on the verge of collapse. The monks had no choice but to make a difficult decision. They sold four Yuan Dynasty murals on the temple wall for 1,600 yuan 😢. These murals, like children tossed by fate, ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum. Standing in the main hall of the lower temple of Guangsheng Temple, looking at the empty walls, our hearts are filled with sadness and helplessness. In that era, perhaps it was a choice without options. If not sold, the temple might disappear into the long river of history; if sold, the temple would be preserved, but with the regret of文物外流 (cultural relics outflow). 💕Today, we should cherish this temple even more. It is not only an architectural treasure, but also a witness to history. 🎫Here are some tips for visiting: 📍Location: Hongtong County, Linfen, Shanxi 🎫Ticket: 68 yuan/person, round-trip minibus to and from the mountain: 20 yuan/person 🕔Time: 8:00 - 18:00 (17:30 stop entry) 🚌Suggested route: Upper temple at the mountainside➠Lower temple at the foot of the mountain 📷Note: Photography is allowed inside the hall, but no flash 🚗Transportation is also convenient: 1️⃣Self-driving from Linfen to Guangsheng Temple: 1 hour 2️⃣Linfen West🚄Hongdong West 12min, then taxi 0.5h to Guangsheng Temple 3️⃣Xi'an North🚄Hongdong West 2h, then taxi to Guangsheng Temple Let's walk into Guangsheng Temple, feel its charm, and also remember that period of history, hoping that the cultural relics can return home one day🙏.